Council moves to formalize lawn and cemetery maintenance contract, directs written duties

The Clawson Town Council directed staff to draft and send a written contract and letter to the town's lawn and cemetery contractor outlining required tasks, payment conditions and a July start date, councilors said.

Council members described repeated service lapses and operational confusion over timers, solenoids and responsibilities. "We need to write a contract today that tells her exactly what she's expected to do," Julie, the town's chief financial officer, said during discussion of maintenance and budget lines. Several members argued that without a clear contract the town has no legal recourse if services are not performed.

Councilor (speaker 4) moved that staff prepare a contract and letter requiring the contractor to meet specified maintenance duties beginning the month of July; the motion was seconded and passed by voice vote. The council discussed that the current maintenance allocation for the cemetery had been roughly $500 in prior budgeting discussions and that the town may need to rebid or terminate the contractor if obligations are not met.

Councilors also discussed operational fixes: consolidating sprinkler timers to a single system, replacing solenoids, and creating clearer contractor job descriptions. A participant noted the contractor (Patty) had recently reported another COVID episode, which the council heard as context for intermittent service. Members agreed that, if service does not improve, the town will put the work to bid and identify temporary coverage to maintain public grounds.

Why it matters: consistent maintenance and clear contract terms determine whether the town's cemetery and public spaces are maintained within budget and whether the town must spend additional funds to hire outside help.

Next steps: staff will draft a written contract and a formal notice to the contractor specifying duties, payment terms and an effective start date (July forward); if the contractor does not perform, the council indicated it will re-bid and may terminate the existing arrangement.